WARREN, CAPUANO & KENNEDY JOIN RENEWED FIGHT

JUNE 21, 2013: Members impacted by either the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) or Government Pension Offset (GPO) received reason for increased optimism that the two regressive federal laws days may be numbered.

Following an earlier bill (HR 1795) filed in the House, Senator Mark Begich (D-Alaska) has filed S.896. The bill now has 9 cosponsors from across the political spectrum, including Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren and Maine’s Susan Collins.

Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (AK) and Dean Heller (NV) have joined with Democrats Barbara Boxer (CA) and Tom Udall (NM) as well as Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse from Rhode Island. Senator Tim Johnson (D-SD) has also signed onto the bill.

In the House, Massachusetts Congressmen Michael Capuano and Joe Kennedy III have now signed onto HR 1795, which now has 78 cosponsors with support continuing to grow. As it now stands, nearly all Massachusetts Congressmen have signed on, as well as the majority of federal representatives from across the New England states.

“We still do not see either of these bills making their way to the House or Senate floors for a vote in the near future. But the growth of support, especially in the Senate from states such as Alaska, New Mexico and South Dakota, shows that retiree voices are being heard,” explains Association Legislative Liaison Shawn Duhamel. “In all likelihood, WEP/GPO will be one piece of a much larger federal reform of the larger Social Security system. When that may happen, especially given the political polarization we see right now, is really anyone’s guess.”

Since 1968 the Retired State, County and Municipal Employees Association has been the leading voice for Massachusetts public retirees and their families. Join with our 62,000 members as we continue the fight.